1st Cav loans 82nd 60+ armored Humvees, & M8 update

The 1st Cavalry Division has provided the 82nd Airborne Division armored Humvees for operations in Iraq, division officials at Fort Bragg said Friday.

''We requested additional armored vehicles to ensure our paratroopers had the best equipment,'' said Maj. Amy Hannah, a division spokeswoman at Fort Bragg. The 82nd received more than 60 M-1114 "up-armored" vehicles in Iraq, Hannah [82nd Div. spokesperson] said.

This was apparently already in the works before the question was asked by SFC Wilson.

1514Z SAT 11DEC04. FtBraggNC.com.

For an update on the four prototype M8 tanks with the AGS weapon system, click on the continuation.

The linked article also answers a question many of us have had for months, since it was announced [back on 18MAR04] that the 82nd would get the four prototypes of the cancelled M8 "Buford" AGS system:

Rep. Robin Hayes [R-NC] asked [in a letter] SoD Rumsfeld to release four M8 Armored Gun Systems from a [York] Pennsylvania warehouse for use by the 82nd. The Army decided to field another gun system, so these four were stored. ''It simply makes no sense to allow an armored gun system that has been type-classified and tested to collect dust when soldiers are dying in the streets of Iraq,'' Hayes wrote. Hannah, the division spokeswoman, declined to comment on Hayes' proposal. [Note that the 82nd Div. Commander did not acknowledge HE asked for them. Generals know better than to tell the press what they ask for, before they get an affirmative answer.] Army officials have expressed concerns about the availability of spare parts for the system that went out of production eight years ago. The manufacturer has pledged to provide spare parts if funding is available.

The 82nd currently has no mechanized, armored firepower, since the Sheridan was phased out and the M8 AGS, which was to replace it, was cancelled. It's limited to towed weapons, which pretty much limits its mission capability to "seize and hold" (awaiting reinforcements) operations, with the tradtional risks of getting overrun if the reinforcements are late arriving.

Murdoc, spurred by this post, has found a more elaborate reporting of Hayes' letter to SoD Rumsfeld. Murdoc points out the four M8 prototypes are part of "the Army we have."

Touche!

As Murdoc suggests, we need to field test the M8 AGS in combat while we have combat, so either it or its successor is optimized. (United would probably send a maintenance team with spare parts over.)

M8 AGS with 105mm (C-130 air droppable or roll on/roll off) [Click for dimensions]

If you have some time, check out this informative (albiet strongly opinionated) page re. air-droppable armored vehicles down through the years. (As you'll see, the author -- propably Sparks -- loves the M113 "Gavin" tracked vehicle, and hates the 8-wheeled Stryker.)